Our key verse for today’s devotional is the overview of the entire chapter of Genesis that reveals how “nations” came into existence some 4,500 years ago. As you read through this chapter, should you not want to read every verse please read the following: verses 1-6, 20-21 and 31-32.

By reading the verses mentioned above you will notice that each of the sons of Noah had a family that they taught a new language and then went to a location on the earth to establish a “nation”. This is the beginning of “nations” in our world.

Remember, God told Noah in Genesis 9:1 to be fruitful, multiply and to “re-people” the earth after the flood. In obedience to God’s directive Noah and his three sons, Shem, Ham and Jepheth moved forward to follow God’s plan for all of humankind.

Please notice the great grandson of Noah, the son of Cush, Nimrod defied God’s command to fill the post-flood world with people, Genesis 11:4, and went to the “plains of Shinar” to build a “great city” called Babylon. In fact, Babylon was the beginning of “Nimrod’s kingdom”, Genesis 10:10.

This information has great significance as it relates to Bible Prophecy. The city of Babylon, founded by Nimrod as a “one world government” with a “one world leader” is the prototype for the end of times scenario that is found in Revelation 18.

This Revelation passage is where we learn of the “one world government” headed up by the Antichrist in the last three and one half years of the Tribulation. Babylon has a very interesting history that is recorded in the Bible with the name “Babylon” used over 250 times in the scriptures.

These are the names of the nations that form a coalition of nations in Ezekiel 38 to go against Israel in the last days. More on that when we come in our devotions to Ezekiel 38.

Please also notice Genesis 10:6, where we find the names of sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim and Phut. Cush is modern-day Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. Mizraim is Egypt and Phut is Libya.

These are today all “Arab nations” and the record of the Bible indicates that it will be over 250 years before Abraham will come on the scene. It is even longer than that before Ishmael will be born. Let the record indicate that Abraham and Ishmael did not “father the Arab world”.

Though Genesis 10 is another genealogy it has some very important information that will help us understand Bible Prophecy when we get to those passages of scripture. Let me just say that when we do study Bible Prophecy passages we’ll see that what is happening today is evidence that the last days scenario in scripture will be fulfilled, seemingly in the very near future. Bible Prophecy will be fulfilled.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for the background needed to understand the last days events that seem to be coming to pass today. Because I have that information I realize that Jesus could come today. Help me to live in light of that reality.